How To Bet On Soccer Matches: A Beginner’s Guide With Matchplug Tips

Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world, and thanks to the emergence of numerous sports betting websites, there are now many ways to wager on a single soccer match. However, as is the case with any activity that has to do with sports, keeping track of every single tournament, league, and match in soccer can be exhausting. That is why we have written this article on how to bet on soccer matches; a beginner’s guide to MatchPlug tips. 

In our article we’ll explain soccer predictions, the various types of bets in this sports, how to read odds, how to bet on soccer matches as a beginner and where to place your bets for maximum returns. Keep reading to learn these things.

Table Of Content:

1. Understanding soccer matches and how they work
2. How to read odds in soccer matches 
3. Different types of bets in soccer matches
4. How to bet on soccer matches for beginners
5. Where to bet on soccer matches

Understanding Soccer Matches And How They Work

Before you can know what soccer betting lines are, you must first understand what soccer is and how the sport works. Soccer is typically a low-scoring sport played over 90 minutes (it has two halves played 45 minutes each). 

Unlike other sports, soccer matches do not always end with a 0-0 score. In a regulation match, you can find a winner, a loser, or a draw when two clubs tie. Most soccer games are restricted to a regulation time, including a “stoppage time” that officials calculate throughout the game. Due to this, most soccer betting lines are designated and marked on the 90-minute relegation time result. 

Certain matches are “knockout matches” where clubs are knocked out through a result. In those cases, the teams play two 15-minute halves of “extra time” as the result of a draw. The clubs can now decide the match winner via penalty kicks (shootout) if needed. 

How To Read Odds In Soccer Matches 

Learning how to read betting odds is a skill you must pick up if you want to bet on soccer matches. Odds indicate the probability of an outcome. For highly probable outcomes, the odds are lower, meaning the bookmaker expects that outcome, and the payout attached to the winning bet is lower. 

For outcomes that are not likely, the odds will be higher, and the payout given to a winning bet will also be high. 

Betting odds can be shown in three different methods, which often depends on your location. These odds all have the same meaning, but are shown in different formats. Choose the odds format you want to use and leave the rest. 

Examples Of Odds In Soccer Matches

There are different types of betting odds you’ll come across when betting on soccer matches. We have explained them in this section. 

1. American Odds

American odds are shown in a plus or minus format. This odd is specific to the United States of America. 

Plus odds

If you see a plus sign in front of a number, it means that for every $100 bet, you will get the number that comes after that “+” sign if the bet is successful. You will also get your original stake back. 

For example, odds listed at +120, means that if you place $100 on that outcome, and it was successful, you could get back $120 plus your original $100 stake ($220 total). But, you must not bet $100; if you place a $10 bet at +120 odds you’ll win $12, a $1 bet at the same odds will make you $1.20. 

Minus odds

If there is a minus sign in front of a number, then what it means is that you’ll bet the number shown after the minus “-”sign to win $100. For example, if the odds are -120, you need to wager $120 to win $100 on a successful bet . This is of course in addition to getting back your original stake. 

2. Slash Odds

Slash odds are popular in the United Kingdom and anywhere else outside the USA. This odd is displayed in fractional format, although it is the same concept as American odds. Here, the winning amount is listed as the numerator, while the denominator is the corresponding bet.

For example – if the odds are 9/2, it means that a $2 bet will get you a $9 win. If it is 8/11, an $11 bet will get you an $8 dollar win. Just know, the denominator is the amount you wager to get the numerator. 

3. Decimal Odds

In other parts of the world, odds are presented in decimal format of up to two decimal places. With these odds, the number displayed is the total amount you’ll gain on a $1 bet, with a twist. Unlike other odds formats, the number includes the return of your original stake. 

So, a successful $1bet at 2.00 odds gets back $2 (your $1 win plus the original $1 you bet gives you $2). If the bet is successful at 2.50, it means that a $1 wager would get you $2.50 ($1.50 in winnings plus the $1 original stake). 

10 Different Types Of Bets In Soccer Matches

There are different types of bets you’ll wager on in soccer matches, and each one has its set of rules and predictions. This section discusses how each of them works. 

1. Moneyline

Moneyline is the most common bet in soccer matches. It just requires you to choose a winner, choosing a set of odds for each club using their implied probability of winning the match. 

There are two main types of moneyline bet – three-way soccer moneylines and two-way soccer moneylines. 

3-Way Moneyline

The three-way moneyline comes with 3 options for you, these include:

• Team A wins.
• Team B wins.
• Draw.

Three-way moneyline results are evaluated entirely on 90 minutes of play, also called “Regular Time.’’ So if you wager on a team to win and it is tied after 90 minutes and that time wins in extra time, you have lost the bet. It also includes injury or stoppage time the referee adds, but it excludes overtimes or PKs.

2 Way-Moneyline

The Two-way moneyline is offered in two easy ways: Double Chance and Draw No Bet. Both are graded on 90 minutes of regulation.

In Double Chance, you’re wagering on a specific club to win/draw, or for either team to win. The results that could occur here are:

• Team A Wins or draws. 
• Team B wins or draws.
• Team A wins or Team B wins. 

Draw No Bet is a bet that removes the prospect of the draw completely and refunds your bet if it ends in a draw. The only potential results here are:

• Team A wins.
• Team B wins.

When the draw is taken out of the equation and wagers result in a push, these odds are inflated on the favourite, and you’ll get a poor price on the underdog. If the match ends in regular time, then all the bets will be refunded and termed as “No Action”. 

2. Derivative Odds

Derivative soccer odds permit you to bet on specific segments of the game, which is the first or second half, the first 10 or 15 minutes, or the last 10 or 15 minutes. It can be for particular time frames, like 31st through the 45th minute of the match. 

Betting sites give derivative odds for sides in a three-way moneyline, match or team totals, and props/specials for those designated time frames. 

3. Spreads

The spread AKA point spread or handicap is another way to wager on soccer odds. Sportsbooks typically set soccer spreads between 0.5 and 2 goals. This can be wider depending on the competition between the two clubs. 

In a spread bet, you’ll see a negative number (-) or laying goals for the favourites, while the underdogs will have plus (+) or getting goals. For the favourite to win a match with a spread of -1.5, they must win the game by two or more goals to cover the spread. Similarly, the underdog would need to lose by one goal or less to cover or win the match outright. 

4. Totals & Over/Unders

In totals you choose whether the combined scores between both clubs in a soccer match will go over or under a specific number. Sportsbooks have been known to move the juice around a few numbers. They don’t want you to push, so they don’t offer much over/under 2 or 3 matches much. Bookies instead adjust to 2.5. 

5. Parlays

For Parlays, you can take several other bets listed in this article and combine them in what is called a “parlay’’. A parlay is basically the combination of two or more wagers, where all the wagers must win for the parlay to be successful. If one bet loses, the entire thing will fall apart and you lose your stake. 

6. Correct Score Prediction

Next to the Moneyline bet, the Correct score prediction is another of the simplest bets in soccer matches. Here, you simply predict the exact score you think a match will end in. If a match ends in that score, for example – 2-1 or 3-0. 

7. Futures

Futures is the type of bet you place for large football tournaments or events like the Euros or World Cup. These are long-running odds markets determined before the start of a season or tournament, or updated after every matchday or round. Futures can change based on results, injuries, betting action or trends. 

Examples of futures bets you can place are – both team results and player awards, Premier League winners, club relegation, and highest goal scorers or Golden Boot winner. 

8. Props

There are a lot of props you can bet on for the World Cup, these include – corners, shots, saves, yellow cards, anytime goalscorer, first goalscorer, team to win in a shutout, team to win after trailing, etc. Prop bets come in two types – player and team props, and you wager based on the performances and results we mentioned. 

9. Asian Handicaps

Asian Handicaps are popular in Asia. These bets are characterized by +1.25 or -1.75 and are just a way to divide your bet in two. If you bet Italy +0.75 against Spain, you’re betting half of you stake on Italy +0.5 and half on the US +1. 

• If Italy wins, you win on both sides. 
• If Italy draws, you win both.
• If the Ital loses by 1, you push the +1 and lose the +0.5, so you’ll lose half your bet amount.
• If Italy loses by 2 or more, you lose both. 

This concept can be used for totals too, if you wager over 2.25, you bet half your stake on over 2 and half on over 2.5. 

How To Bet On Soccer Matches For Beginners

In soccer, anything can happen to throw off or ruin your prediction for a match. That is why you must always be alert and ensure you are following the right betting strategies. In this section, we discuss how to bet on soccer matches for beginners.

1. Check Lineups And Injuries Before Betting On Soccer Matches

Before you bet on a soccer match, especially if you’re backing a specific player, always ensure you check the official starting lineup for that game. For instance, if you’re wagering on Mo Salah to score a goal, ensure he is healthy and in the starting lineup. 

You may miss out on a good price on the bet by not betting in advance, but this is better than losing your whole wager before the match even starts. Besides players health, also check for rotation; know which players will be used for which type of opponents and which ones are on the bench. 

2. Know The Rule Of Every Bet

Many sportsbooks have different rules for different bets, and their words can trick you if you do not pay attention. For instance, when backing goal scorer props, know which bookies will void a bet if the player doesn’t start and which ones will take action if he plays even for a single minute.  

Another schedule to consider are the ones that happen around trap games. A “trap game” is a match with a club that is seen as an inferior opponent. If this type of match happens before a game with a more important club, the coach and players might look ahead despite their best judgement. They may either lose that match willingly or use their weaker players.

4. Understand Teams Motivation

Study team motivation for tournaments like the Euro Cup. It’s not every club that will match an opponent’s strength. For clubs like Georgia, Albania, etc, getting a point against a group powerhouse is as good as scoring three points for them. 

These types of teams may just want to sit back and take as much pressure as they want, before delivering a counter-attack with limited time left. 

5. Study Trends

Trends are a vital part of betting on soccer matches, so ensure that you research them. Historical trends between two clubs, including at a particular stadium where a game will be played, are a common area that soccer match previews discuss. But, recent trends are more important as teams are always changing players and coaches every season. 

How a team performed against an opponent recently or one with the same style or quality is better than factoring in a head-to-head matchup from 10 years ago. 

6. Evaluate Tactics

Every club has a tactic that is peculiar to them. For example, the England national team struggles against clubs that stay in a low block and defend. France is dangerous on counter-attack. Spain likes to retain possession and use passing to create chances. Brazil passes the ball to Vinicius Jr. on the break and allows him to counter-attack.

Conversely, if a club is conceding goals on one side of the pitch more than the other side, that is vital data. Check if their opponent has a fast, versatile winger who could trouble them. If the club prefers to sit back and defend and shoot from a distance, then watch their corner total and find better odds.

Where To Bet On Soccer Matches

Soccer is one of the most wagered on sports in the world and it has a massive amount of bets coming in through numerous matches, tournaments, and leagues. But, selecting the right Prediction Site to bet on soccer matches can be difficult. 

MatchPlug is here to simplify this journey by providing you with experienced analysts and the best odds you can find in the market. We also have a large database of knowledge where we regularly share advice and betting tips for bettors.